Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $581 (excluding rent), and $1,046 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,499 (excluding rent), and $2,392 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.16 NIO 153

$3.23 NIO 119

$9.87 NIO 363

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.23 NIO 1,222

$24.68 NIO 908

$79.0 NIO 2,904

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 NIO 202

$5.36 NIO 197

$7.85 NIO 289

Cappuccino

$2.39 NIO 87.9

$1.10 NIO 40.28

$4.06 NIO 149

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 NIO 29.42

$0.47 NIO 17.22

$1.33 NIO 48.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 NIO 24.77

$0.45 NIO 16.63

$0.96 NIO 35.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 NIO 47.61

$1.08 NIO 39.62

$3.88 NIO 143

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.6

$1.93 NIO 70.9

$4.06 NIO 149

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 NIO 46.25

$0.91 NIO 33.57

$1.43 NIO 52.6

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 NIO 54.3

$2.41 NIO 88.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 NIO 43.37

$1.87 NIO 68.7

Eggs

$1.91 NIO 70.2

$1.65 NIO 60.7

$2.47 NIO 91.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 NIO 286

$4.46 NIO 164

$13.51 NIO 497

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 NIO 240

$3.02 NIO 111

$6.90 NIO 254

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 NIO 293

$7.13 NIO 262

$10.77 NIO 396

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 NIO 140

$3.29 NIO 121

$4.87 NIO 179

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NIO 32.78

$0.61 NIO 22.60

$2.26 NIO 83.3

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 NIO 64.4

$1.46 NIO 53.7

$5.28 NIO 194

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 NIO 82.8

$1.99 NIO 73.2

$3.08 NIO 113

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 NIO 117

$2.18 NIO 80.3

$4.17 NIO 153

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 80.2

$2.06 NIO 75.8

$2.96 NIO 109

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.27

$0.73 NIO 26.81

$1.70 NIO 62.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 NIO 37.34

$0.77 NIO 28.28

$1.48 NIO 54.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 NIO 99.9

$2.52 NIO 92.8

$3.67 NIO 135

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 NIO 374

$9.96 NIO 366

$15.04 NIO 553

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.8

$1.10 NIO 40.63

$1.74 NIO 64.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 NIO 83.3

$1.76 NIO 64.9

$2.43 NIO 89.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 NIO 54.4

$1.34 NIO 49.32

$1.61 NIO 59.1

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.88 NIO 253

$5.52 NIO 203

$10.12 NIO 372

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 NIO 47.53

$1.21 NIO 44.53

$1.36 NIO 50.2

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.3K NIO 856.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K NIO 970.7K

$29.0K NIO 1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$42.17 NIO 1,551

$24.81 NIO 912

$108 NIO 3,961

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.35 NIO 381

$5.91 NIO 217

$18.83 NIO 693

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.61 NIO 1,310

$29.67 NIO 1,091

$59.4 NIO 2,183

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.39 NIO 1,118

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 NIO 290

$6.06 NIO 223

$11.83 NIO 435

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$125 NIO 4,595

$67.1 NIO 2,467

$262 NIO 9,621

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,941 NIO 218.5K

$4,158 NIO 152.9K

$14.9K NIO 546.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.5 NIO 2,813

$54.1 NIO 1,990

$88.9 NIO 3,269

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 NIO 2,627

$39.24 NIO 1,443

$118 NIO 4,348

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,904

$80.4 NIO 2,958

$151 NIO 5,546

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,918

$54.2 NIO 1,992

$148 NIO 5,433

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 NIO 17.2K

$402 NIO 14.8K

$502 NIO 18.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 NIO 14.8K

$148 NIO 5,433

$616 NIO 22.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 NIO 35.5K

$660 NIO 24.3K

$1,218 NIO 44.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$968 NIO 35.6K

$902 NIO 33.2K

$1,002 NIO 36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 NIO 10.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: April 12, 2026

San Juan del Sur Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur offers a balanced mix of value and choice. Local markets and casual eateries let you stretch a budget without sacrificing flavor, while mid-range apartments near the beach or in hillside streets provide comfortable options for longer stays. Utilities and internet tend to be reasonable for a tourist-friendly town, though prices can shift with the season. For longer stays, negotiating rent and choosing longer leases can noticeably reduce monthly costs. A practical plan is to blend self-catering with inexpensive meals and pick a neighborhood that fits your pace and access needs. Tip: Start with a two- or three-week trial in one area to compare neighborhoods before signing a longer rental.

For a typical day, you combine practical errands with productive work time. When searching for housing, start with local listings online, then wander the central beachfront and hillside lanes to assess noise, light, and access. Food options run from budget mercados and pupuserias to midrange cafes with international dishes. Groceries come from mercados and small supermarkets; buy seasonal produce to keep costs steady. Getting around is straightforward on foot for short hops; tuk-tuks and scooter rentals handle longer coastal trips. There are coworking spaces and cafes with reliable Wi‑Fi for work calls. For a sense of San Juan del Sur living cost, observe price ranges across markets and eateries. Tip: set a weekly budget by category and track it.

Quality of life in San Juan del Sur comes from a relaxed pace, access to beaches and outdoor markets, and a growing community of travelers and remote workers. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay flexible: divide your month into housing, food, transport, and leisure, then adjust each category as the season shifts. Save by cooking with fresh, local produce, shopping at mercados, and choosing longer-term rentals with utilities included. Seasonal changes bring busier streets and fuller queues, especially in peak season, so plan around popular weekends and holidays. Neighborhood fit matters: beachfront zones are lively, while hillside lanes offer quieter mornings and sunsets. Tip: set a monthly review date to swap in cheaper options when possible.